The death has occurred of Frank Hartnett, Dún an Óir, Ballinorig West, Tralee and late of Hartnett’s Garage, Tralee Road, Castleisland and Tralee.
Deeply regretted by his loving family – his sons Michael and Timothy, daughters Norma, Julette and Philomena, sister Philomena (Nolan), brothers-in-law Tom (Mc Carthy) and Joe (Nolan), sisters-in-law Marie (Hartnett), Nuala (Flanagan) and Mary (Sheridan), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends.
May He Rest in Peace.
While Frank Hartnett will be remembered widely as the salesman at the Hartnett Brothers, Main Renault dealership at Tralee Road in Castleisland, an older generation will have memories of him from his dance band days.
With his brothers, Maurice and Florrie, Frank ‘Doc’ Hartnett opened their garage and filling station on Tralee Road in the late 1960s and they attracted a loyal customer pool from Kerry and beyond.
Frank’s son Michael and myself manned the pumps through many a winter’s night and were often joined by Frank himself at the end of the night.
He had an uncanny ability to make up a song about something which had just happened there and then. Though he had left the entertainment business far behind him by then – it broke out in him from time-to-time.
At the time of Florrie’s death in July 2003, local sax player, Tommy Watson told me that he travelled many roads with Frank and Florrie as part of Paddy Breen’s Island Swing Band.
“We did a lot of relief-band work for the likes of Mick Delahunty and other leading bands of that time.
“We travelled through Clare and Limerick and for some reason we played very often in Caherciveen and South Kerry. Then later on the Hartnetts formed their own band and they were very successful for a while,” said Tommy.
Funeral arrangements for the late Frank Hartnett
Reposing at Mc Elligott’s Funeral Home, Tralee on Sunday evening from 4.30pm to 6.30pm followed by removal at 6.30pm to The Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rathass. Requiem Mass will take place on Monday at 10am followed by private cremation. Family Flowers only please. Donations in lieu to The Palliative Care Unit, Kerry University Hospital.
Date Published: Friday 6th May 2016. Date of Death: Thursday 5th May 2016
